Italian Social Class


Figure 1.-- Here we see an Italian peasant family in 1947. It was taken in southern Italy, probably in the Basilicata region. The family is in the fields for the olive harvesting. That means that it was late-October or, more probably, November. We can see the parents and their eight children. Families like his were still a very importnt part of the Itlian population before capitlism (initially in the form of the German Ecomomic Miracle) and Europan integration began to remake the social structure of Italy.

We know a great deal about social class in Ancient Rome, more than in any other ancient civilization. Ancient Romans wrore a great deal about it. And modern historians have followed suit, in part because of its impact on Roman political life. Social class again became important in the late medival era as Italy, especially northern Italy gave birth to the Renaissance and led Europe into modern times. Italy untill after World War II was one of the poorest countries in Europe. The south was very poor, almost feudal with much of the population still rural peasants. It was this that generated such massive emigration to the United States. Capitalism is commonly presented as creating social division and sharp class barriers. It is true that capitalism creates absolute income differences, but it is also true that because of the wealth generated not only did average income levels increase, but those of the poorest as well. We can see that in Italy, whee the industrial north was much more prosperous than the agricultural south and its large peasant population. And capitalism has acted to radically change the Italian social class structure. The large peasant class in Sicily and southern Italy has virtually evaportated. The Italian Institute of Statistics which follows class issues describes six different class categories. First, is the bourgeoisie, which includes entrepreneurs employing at least six workers. It also includes self-employed professionals, and managers. This group now includes 10 percent of Italy's working population. Second, is the white collar middle class which includes employees engaged in non-manual jobs and is some 17 percent of the working population. Third, is the urban petit bourgeoisie which is 14 percent of the working population. These are small entrepreneurs with not more than six employees, shopkeepers, and self-employed artisans. Fourth: is the rural petit bourgeoisie with 10 percent of the working population. They own and operate small enterprises in the primary sectors of agriculture, forestry, hunting, and fishing. Fifth, is the urban working class which is now the largest segment of the population. It totals 37 percent of the workforce and is engaged in manual labor. Sixth, is the rural working class meaning the peasantry with only 9 percent of the working population. They are employees of the agricultural sector, along with forestry and fishing. One observer tellus, "This class breakdown, in identifying 2 categories each of the working and entrepreneurial classes, is considered to be more precise than the more common method of class division and has been used since the mid-1980s." And it shows a huge shift since the World War II era when the rural working class or peasantry ws the largest sector and dominated much of southern Italy and Sicily.

Ancient Rome

We know a great deal about social class in Ancient Rome, more than in any other ancient civilization. Ancient Romans wrote a great deal about it. And modern historians have followed suit, in part because of its impact on Roman political life.

Renaissance

Social class again became important in the late medieval era as Italy, especially northern Italy gave birth to the Renaissance which led Europe from feudalism into modern times.

Kingdom of Italy (1861-1946)

Italy untill after World War II was one of the poorest countries in Europe. The Kingdom of Italy was fondd around the Piedmont monarrchy of northern Italy (1861). The south was very poor, almost feudal with much of the population still rural peasants. Most of the Italian people worked in the fields, the vast majority as sharecroppers. The South had not great factories. That was even more true in some regions as Basilicata where almost all people had own sustenance by agriculture or as sharecroppers or as daily farmhands, or as fields owners. It was this that generated massive emigration to the United States, Argentina, Brazil, and other countries beginning in the late-19th century. People emigrated from all over Italy, but especially from the south where economic conditions were especilly depressed. Another element worth noteing is that the poor agricultural families are very large. Here we see a good example (figur 1). That is influenced by several elements. The Catholic tradition sees the children as a blessing. Sometime there was also a certain 'machismo' of the men that so showed their stamina. During the Fascist time the regime actively promoted large families as a componebt of national power. Mussolini constantly bragged avout 8 million bayonets. On the other hand in the traditional organization of the agicultural work with few or no machines the children was work force since early age, while the expenses were limited: the same poor meal of the family, old clothing that wore the older brothers, no shoes.

Republic of Italy (1946- )

Capitalism is commonly presented as creating social division and sharp class barriers. It is true that capitalism creates absolute income differences, but it is also true that because of the wealth generated not only did average income levels increase, but those of the poorest as well. We can see that in Italy, where the industrial north was much more prosperous than the agricultural south and its large peasant population. And capitalism has acted to radically change the Italian social class structure. The large peasant class in Sicily and southern Italy has virtually evaportated. Large numbers of Italians, again especially from the south sought jobs in the expanding industries of northern Italy as well as the industrial countries of northern Europe, especilly Belgium and Germany (1950s-60). The Italian Institute of Statistics which follows class issues describes six different class categories. First, is the bourgeoisie, which includes entrepreneurs employing at least six workers. It also includes self-employed professionals, and managers. This group now includes 10 percent of Italy's working population. Second, is the white collar middle class which includes employees engaged in non-manual jobs and is some 17 percent of the working population. Third, is the urban petit bourgeoisie which is 14 percent of the working population. These are small entrepreneurs with not more than six employees, shopkeepers, and self-employed artisans. Fourth: is the rural petit bourgeoisie with 10 percent of the working population. They own and operate small enterprises in the primary sectors of agriculture, forestry, hunting, and fishing. Fifth, is the urban working class which is now the largest segment of the population. It totals 37 percent of the workforce and is engaged in manual labor. Sixth, is the rural working class meaning the peasantry with only 9 percent of the working population. They are employees of the agricultural sector, along with forestry and fishing. One observer tellus, "This class breakdown, in identifying 2 categories each of the working and entrepreneurial classes, is considered to be more precise than the more common method of class division and has been used since the mid-1980s." And it shows a huge shift since the World War II era when the rural working class or peasantry ws the largest sector and dominated much of southern Italy and Sicily.






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Created: 3:25 AM 6/28/2017
Last updated: 3:25 AM 6/28/2017